The Skyguard is a Nanite Systems anti-aircraft primary weapon available to the Lightning. The Skyguard fires 40mm flak rounds that explode upon coming into close proximity or direct contact with enemy aircraft, dealing a moderate amount of damage.

The Skyguard is an extremely effective aircraft deterrent when used on its own, able to destroy ESFs that underestimate its damage potential. It can also heavily damage Valkyries and Liberators, and provides enough damage output towards Galaxies that they are generally unable to sustain themselves. Skyguards become significantly more effective when used in groups of 2 or more.

For every additional Lightning equipped with a Skyguard, the ability for the group to destroy enemy aircraft becomes even more potent, with just 2 Skyguards being able to destroy even an enemy Liberator before it can escape. Not only are Skyguards more effective than MAXes at air deterrence, due to the Lightning's added resilience and damage potential, they are also 100 Nanites cheaper than MAXes, with a cost of 350, which can be further reduced by the bonus provided by locking Esamir. As such, a Skyguard Lightning is extremely cost efficient and effective method of providing a mobile area of denial for your allied force.

A Skyguard has a glaring weakness compared to the other cannons, however. It loses almost all potential at dealing damage to ground vehicles and infantry, leaving it extremely exposed to attacks from non-aircraft.

Unlike the Lightning's other primary weapons, the Skyguard has a large magazine of 70 rounds. Also unlike the other primaries, the Skyguard has a high elevation range, giving it the ability to look directly above itself, however at the sacrifice of having the inability to look as far down as the other cannons.